This is an Appeal for Help to Send 18 Indian River County, Florida Students to the 2016 National Academic Games Competition in Atlanta, GA

ON MARCH 28, 2016 WE RECEIVED THIS EMAIL FROM A PARENT OF A STUDENT AT SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASKING US IF WE WOULD HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEED TO FUND EXPENSES FOR SENDING 18 STUDENTS TO THE 2016 NATIONAL ACADEMIC GAMES COMPETITION IN ATLANTA, GA HELD ON APRIL 22-25,2016.

“I don’t know if this would be something you would be interested in for your Human Interest Page.

HELP OUR STUDENTS PROGRESS TO NATIONAL COMPETITION

Fifth through twelfth grade Indian River County, Florida students are choosing to spend their after-school hours studying Math, English, Presidents, World/Current Events. The motivation for this extracurricular studying is the chance to represent IndianRiver County, Florida at the 2016 National Academic Games Competition in Atlanta, GA, held on April 22-25, 2016.

Eighteen Indian River County students have qualified for the honor of competing at the highest level at the National Academic Games Competition, after competing and winning ribbons and trophies at the local and State levels.

The cost for our Indian River County National Academic Games Competition Team will be approximately $ 12,000 for 18 students for registration, room, meals and transportation. A donation from any amount from you today will ensure that all students who qualified for the National Competition can attend.

**As a sponsor of Indian River Academic Games, your name will also be printed on the back of our specially-printed Academic Games t-shirt!

Academic Games Leagues of America, Inc. (AGLOA) was incorporated in 1992 and has hosted a National Tournament each year since then. Over 20,000 players have competed nationally since 1966. Over 100,000 players have participated in local Academic Games matches.

The alumni list of former Academic Games players and champions includes major business leaders, outstanding educators and professionals of all types. Their alumni has grown to become leaders in their communities and their work lives. Academic Games is a series of competitions designed to challenge student’s abilities in the areas of mathematics, language arts and social studies. Students in grades 4-12 can compete in any or all of the events according to their interests.

There are four Academic Games leagues in Florida:

Indian River Academic Games League

Martin Academic Games League

Palm Beach Academic Games League

Southwest Florida Academic Games League

Students who play Academic Games:

Experience an alternate way to learn

Learn important concepts before their classmates

Build strategic thinking skills

Rise to the challenge of competition

Receive public recognition for their academic success

Develop team loyalty

William and Mac at the Florida State Championship

These 18 students really do spend their after-school hours studying Math, English, Presidents and World/Current Events.

Here are the four games they will be playing at the National Academic Games Competition.

World Events: Players learn about the major political and cultural events of the past year. They also study and research a particular social studies topic that varies from year to year.

Equations: Challenges students to use randomly-generated numbers and math operations to create Goals and Solutions in thought-provoking ways. As grade levels increase, more demanding math concepts are introduced.

Presidents: Players learn how U.S. Presidents developed personally and professionally and how the major events of their administrations affected the citizens of the United States.

According to Lorrie Scott, County Coordinator for Indian River Academic Games, for World Events students are studying events, such as in business what happened to Volkswagen; such as in sports, who won the Kentucky Derby; such as climate change in international news; how the New Horizons mission went by Pluto; as well as events in entertainment, movies and plays; and about authors.

For equations they are studying math equations that appear simple but are not. They need to create solutions that meet goals.

For Presidents they need to know trivia about US presidents. Here is an example of a President’s test:

“Like my father, I had a sober personality. My good education and talent for learning languages contributed to my great success as a diplomat. You can see a microscope that belonged to me if you visit the Smithsonian Institution.”

Here are the choices to pick from:

1. George Washington

2. John Adams

3. Thomas Jefferson

4. James Madison

5. James Monroe

6. John Quincy Adams

7. Andrew Jackson

8. Martin Van Buren

9. William Henry Harrison

10. John Tyler

11. James Polk

12. Zachary Taylor

And the correct answer is:

John Quincy Adams!

Adam’s microscope

For LinguiShtiks students study grammar and are asked to write certain types of sentences.

Here is a LinguiShtiks quiz:

An indefinite pronoun has been called as a demand for the word to be formed. Which of these sentences contains an indefinite pronoun? Can you identify the word in each correct sentence?

(A) Each was responsible for making his own lunch.(B) Neither girl could explain how the cereal spilled all over the floor.(C) Everyone liked the taste of the new green smoothie.(D) I like both flavors of ice cream sundaes.

And the correct answers are:

A and C; the pronouns are each and everyone. In both B and D the words neither and both are used as adjectives, not indefinite pronouns.

The Academic Games Leagues of America, through its website, agloa.org, does provide on-line quizzes for students to study.

Here is a young Indian River County, Florida lady who was undefeated in LinguiStiks at last year’s national championship.

And here is the entire group at last year’s championship

In closing, here are two great quotes:

Lorrie Scott: “These kids are extraordinary. The are so wonderful and have worked so hard.”

“My son, Robert loves Academic Games because he likes to test his knowledge and meet new friends. I like them because it gives kids a challenge and a chance for academics to be taught and celebrated outside of school and report cards.”